Al Maktoum International will be the world’s biggest airport

If you think Dubai International Airport is big, just wait until you see Dubai’s new Al Maktoum International Airport which, once fully operational, has a planned passenger capacity of up to 260 million — five times that of Dubai’s existing airport.

Al Maktoum International Airport will be located south of the city at Dubai World Central, which has been open to cargo flights since 2010 and some passenger services since 2013. Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on April 28, 2024, approved plans for construction of the giant air hub.

The AED128 billion ($53b) airport will be the largest in the world when fully operational, covering 70 square kilometres. It will feature 400 aircraft gates, five parallel runways, west and east processing terminals, four satellite concourses, an uninterrupted automated people mover for passengers and an integrated landside transport hub for roads, metro and city air transport. An entire city is being constructed around the airport.

The first phase of the project is set for completion in 10 years, with a capacity to accommodate 150 million passengers annually.

“Al Maktoum will enjoy the world’s largest capacity, reaching up to 260 million passengers. It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport and all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to it in the coming years,” says Sheikh Mohammed.

The new airport will “prepare the ground for the next 40 years of anticipated growth in Dubai’s aviation sector”, he says, adding it will feature “cutting-edge technologies, passenger facilities with unmatched level of service, and state-of-the-art aviation support facilities”.

Dubai International Airport has been the busiest airport in the world in terms of international traffic for the last 10 years. In 2023 it handled 86.9 million passengers. Since the airport opened in 1960, passenger traffic has grown at an annual average rate of 13 per cent, requiring ongoing expansion and upgrades. Passenger throughput this year is forecast at 88.8 million, close to the record 89.1 million in 2018. The airport is connected to 262 destinations across 104 countries through 102 international carriers.